Joan Firstenberg

Achievements

Seniors, above the age of 65, who live in English-speaking countries report the most satisfaction with their lives. But those in other countries around the world grow increasingly less satisfied as they age.

Mountain View -
Resumes that tout an applicant's "creativity", "organizational" or "effective" abilities, won't get you the job. Such industry jargon was so overused in 2012 that it has lost its meaning and is likely to land such documents in the trash.

New York -
The feature-length HBO special promises to give viewers an "intimate" look at Beyonce's life. It will include personal home movies of her as a child, along with her journey from a young singer to the pop icon she is today.

Washington -
The Pakistani-based Haqqani Network has been blacklisted by the U.S. and is now considered a terrorist group. This was a much-disputed decision and Pakistan voiced its surprise at it. But U.S. dismay at deadly Haqqani violence drove the decision.

Joliet -
The verdict has come in on Drew Peterson. The jury found the former Illinois police sergeant guilty today of murdering his 3rd wife, Kathleen Savio. The case did not involve the disappearance of Stacy Peterson.

Actor/comedien Sacha Baron Cohen is not getting all the interviews he might want for his new "Dictator" movie. Outlets like the BBC will only invite him if he appears as himself and doesn't wear his Dictator garb.

A Popchips ad featuring Ashton Kutcher made up in various costumes, including one as a brown-faced Indian Bollywood Producer set off a slew of social media posts charging the company and Kutcher with racism.

Abu Dhabi -
An argument in an Abu Dhabi school during recess erupted when four boys reportedly attacked their fellow classmate, Loujain Hussain. She was beaten so brutally she suffered a brain hemorrhage and is now in a coma.

New York -
The One World Trade Center building is still under construction, and won't be finished until next year. But as of 4/30/12 it is NYC's tallest building, surpassing the Empire State structure. At completion, it's likely to be the tallest in the U.S.

Washington -
Martin Luther King's impressive memorial which lies alongside the National Mall in Washington D.C. bears a quote that angry critics now says is out of context to what he actually said and makes King seem conceited and self-involved.

New York -
UPDATE: New York State health officials have just dismissed complaints from parents who claimed they were barred from entering a hospital's neonatal unit to see their own newborns because singer Beyonce was there giving birth to her daughter.

Cairo -
With Hosni Mubarak out of power in Egypt, the violence begins anew between Muslims and Coptic Christians. The latest incident involves an Egyptian businessman who tweeted a picture of Mickey and Minnie Mouse in Islamic dress. He is now on trial.

Irving -
Hostess, the maker of Snoballs, Zingers and Twinkies, is preparing to file for bankruptcy again, just two years after emerging from its first filing. The company is hurting from a consumer move to healthier foods, and high labor and ingredient costs.

Orlando -
How does a drink of 80-proof scotch sound for just $5? It comes in 8 or 12 ounces for the same price. But wait! This drink comes in a can, and it's not reasealable, so that means it either has to be transferred into a glass container or gulped down.

Toulon -
Industrial silicone-infused breast augmentations have been going on since 1997. It is believed that 450,000 women worldwide were operated on with PIP's faulty implants. Some are in pain, others are frightened, and most know the 'dream' is over.

New York -
Minhee Cho was shocked when she saw on her Papa John's pizza receipt that the employee had described her as "lady chinky eyes." She was super offended because she says the woman who served her was so nice.

New York -
Ryan is a 6-tyear old the blonde-haired, blue-eyed model. He also has Downs syndrome and two big retailers, Target and Nordstrom have selected him for their clothing ads. Neither store made a big deal about it, and Ryan's father is thrilled.

Washington -
The Obama administration has expanded the FBI’s eight-decade-old definition of rape so that men can be counted as victims. The change discards the requirement that victims must have physically resisted their attackers.

New York -
Two food mavens who cook and judge other cooks on the Food Network are getting a show of their own on daytime TV. It would be based on Regis & Kelly, and could even boot Kelly, currently without Regis, from her perch.